Marathon’s Vault Breaker adds PvE vault raids and kit upgrades

Bungie released Vault Breaker on July 21 as a timed, player-versus-environment mode for Marathon. The season runs through August 4 and replaces player-versus-player objectives in the Cryo Archive expeditions with AI-controlled Vault raids and extraction decisions tied to a mission timer.

Players begin each run by choosing one of two Cryo Keys, Cryo Key 01 or Cryo Key 02, and advance through occupied territories to locate Vaults guarded by UESC forces. Inside a Vault, teams must decode a series of symbols on Vault walls and match them to terminals to unlock caches and progress through the site.

Completing puzzles and clearing encounters yields rewards that range from Tier 1 Indexes to higher-value loot. After each Vault, teams may extract and end the run or continue deeper into the site for larger rewards while a countdown clock runs. If time expires, progress can be lost.

Indexes collected during runs are converted into Vault Breaker Data, the event currency. Players can spend that data on weapons and equipment that may be extracted for use in other game modes, or on persistent upgrades for the Vault Breaker Sponsored Kit. Available upgrades include items such as an Enhanced Shield Implant and Vault Credentials, which change how later runs start and play out and remain active between attempts.

Vault Breaker is strictly PvE; it removes player-versus-player combat from these seasonal expeditions. The Vaults include higher-difficulty encounters and Legendary threats such as The Compiler for teams that push far into the sites. The mode uses the Cryo Archive expedition framework but replaces PvP objectives with AI challenges and extraction choices tied to the event timer.

Items found inside a run cannot be extracted directly unless they are converted into Vault Breaker Data or purchased through the event economy. Weapons and equipment bought with Vault Breaker Data can be taken out of the event and used in other game modes.

The event is available as part of Marathon’s seasonal offering from July 21 through August 4.